Rotary valve



A. E. MOORHEAD.

ROTARY VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25,19|B. 1,361,397. Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

1v vE/V run A E. MUD/7 HEA D A. E. MOORHEAD.

ROTARY VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25, ma.

Patented Dec. 7,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' llllllllllll? INVE/VTUR A- E. MDUFHEAD ALBERT E. MOORHEAD, OF UKIA H, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

Substitute for application Serial No. 743,048, filed January 20, 1913. This application filed September 25,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Moon- HEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ukiah, in the county of Mendocino and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Valves, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rotary valves and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention is shown and described herein as applied to a four-cylinder explosive engine, but it is applicable, as will appear, to other types of engines as alsoto compressors and other devices for handling fluids.

The present invention is a substitute for my abandoned application, Ser. No. 7 43,048, filed Jan. 20, 1913.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a View representing a vertical central section through the cylinders of a four-cylinder explosive engine provided with my improved valve mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a view representing on an enlarged scale a partial longitudinal central section through the valve casing.

Fig. 3 is a view representing an inner end elevation of one of the two members which comprise one of'the movable valve elements of the valve mechanism.

Fig. 4 represents perspective views of the two members which together form one of the movable valve elements of the valve mechanism.

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views representing longitudinal central sections of one of the engine cylinders at and including the valve casing with the inlet passage in the valve casing distorted to bring it into view back of the plane of the section so as to illustrate diagrammatically the relative positions of the valve parts during the different strokes of the engine.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, 10, 11, 12 and 13 indicate the four cylinders of a four-cycle engine; 14, 15, 16 and 17 indicate the respective pistons reciprocating in said cylinders; 18 indicates the crank-shaft; and 19, 20, 21 and 22 indicate the several crankarms by means of which the said crank- Serial No. 255,697.

shaft is connected with the several pistons. 23 denotes the crank-casing inclosing the crank-shaft and the several crank-arms. The engine cylinders are provided with the usual water jackets 24 which are all connected together and supplied with cooling water in a familiar manner.

25 indicates, as a whole, a valve casing which extends across the ends of the cylinders the full length of the engine and contains a plurality of rotative valve elements, one for each cylinder, all of which are connected together, as will appear, to rotate as one. The said valve casing 25 is made in two parts, an upper semi-cylindric shell 25 and a lower semi-cylindric shell 25*, the latter of which, as shown, is cast integral with the end walls 27 of the several cylinders. The two shells are secured together in any convenient manner and are provided between them with a layer or sheet 30 of packing to make a gas-tight joint.

The end wall 27 of each cylinder has a large port opening 28 and the two shells of the valve casing are provided in line with each of said port openings with interior spheric bearing surfaces 31, 32, respectively, in which a movable ball valve element 33 has bearing. each engine cylinder is the same, so that a description of one will suflice for all. Each ball valve element 33 is made in two parts and comprises hemispheric members 34, 35

(see Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive) which are h0llow and one of which, namely, the valve member 34, constitutes the inlet member of the valve element while the other, 35, constitutes the exhaust member of the valve element. Said members have fiat adjacent walls 34 35% respectively. The proximate outer faces of said walls are provided with annular grooves 36, 37 which together form a closed annular channel to receive a packing ring 38. Dowel pins 39, 39, each fixed in one of the walls 34*, 35, engaged in suitable recesses in the opposite wall so as to hold the two valve elements against independent rotative movement.

In the wall of one of said valve elements 34, 35, in this case, as illustrated, in the wall 34 of the inlet valve element 34, there is provided a centrally located recess 41 to The construction in the case of receive an expansion coiled spring 42, which acts to yieldingly force the two members comprising the ball valve element apart and thus expand the ball element as a whole so as to insure close, snug, bearing engagement of said ball against the spheric bearing surfaces 31, 32 in the valve casing.

Each valve member is provided with a projecting polar stem 43, 44, the two stems of the valve members having their axes coincident with that diameter of the ball-valve which extends at right angles to the diametric plane between said valve members. The said stems extend into chambers 45 located in the valve casing at each side of the ball-valve element, there being one of said chambers placed intermediate each pair of ball-valve elements and also at the outer side of each end ball valve element. The polar stems of adjacent ball-valve elements have their axes inclined at an angle to each other as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and are coupled together in such manner that all of the ball-valves rotate together in unison.

43 44 indicate coupling devices which are non-rotatively connected to the ends of the adjacent valve stems 43, 44, respectively. Said coupling devices are provided with laterally spaced bearing arms 43", 44", in which are rotatively mounted transversely extending pins 46, 47, the pin carried by one coupling device being arranged at right angles to the pin carried by the other coupling device, and one pin, in this case the pin 47, extending through and having rotative bearing vin the other pin, in this case the pin 46 (see Fig. 2). This construction provides a universal knuckle-joint between the valve stems of adjacent ball valve elements which will permit swinging or oscillatory movement of one valve stem with reference to that with which it is connected in any and all directions.

Each coupling device includes a sleeve 48 44*, with which the bearing arms carrying the associated pins are made integral and which sleeve is feathered upon the valve stem (43, 44) to which itis connected so as to be capable of longitudinal sliding movement thereon. This construction provides for a longitudinal play between the valve stems of adjacent ball valve elements thus allowing for any expansion or contraction due to changes in temperature of the valve structure and permits a limited flexibility in the distances between the ball valve elements to accommodate any inequalities that may occur in the castng of the valve casing or cylinders.

The stems of the end valve elements are connected by a universal joint, similar to 'those just described, to crank-arms 48, 48,

fixed on stud-shafts 48, 48 which are mountedin the ends of the valve casing. One of said shafts is projected beyond the valve casing and has keyed to it a bevel gear 48 which meshes with a smaller beveled-gear 49 on an upright shaft 49*. The latter is driven from the crank-shaft as shown in a familiar manner. The ratio of the gears 49 and 48 is 2 to 1, so that the valve-shafts 48 are caused to make one revolution while the crank-shaft is making two.

Entering the valve casing from opposite sides thereof and longitudinally spaced from each other are inlet and discharge passages 50, '51, respectively, which are connected in a familiar manner with the manifolds (not shown). In the spheric wall of the hollaw inlet valve member of each valve element there is provided an inlet port 50 and in each exhaust valve member, an exhaust port 51, each of which at one time in the movement of the said valve elements is brought into alinement with an associated inlet or exhaust passage, as the case may be. Said ports are arranged relatively to each other and to the inlet and exhaust passages so that the valve will rotate through threequarters of a revolution between the times when the inlet and exhaust ports register respectively with the inlet and exhaust passages.

The hollowva'lve members of each valve element have ports in their spheric walls adjacent the diametric plane dividing the members, which ports are adapted for connecting the interior of said members with the associated cylinder. Said ports will be hereinafter called cylinder ports. 53 indicates the cylinder port of the inlet member and 54 the cylinder port of the outlet member, the two being spaced apart by an angle of 90 degrees and being arranged so that the cylinder port of each shell will register with the opening connecting the valve chamber with the cylinder when the inlet or exhaust port, as the case may be, registers with its associated inlet or exhaust passage. In each case the outer walls of the adjacent member are cut away as shown at 55 (Figs. 2 and 4) in order to bring the port opening as nearly as may be into the diametric plane dividing the members.

The operation of my improved valve mechanism is as follows: Starting with the valve elements in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1, Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 show a valve element in the positions corresponding re spectively to the positions of the valve elements associated with the cylinders 10, 11, 12 and 13, respectively. As the movements of all the valve elements are the same, each valve element having the same timed movement with reference to the movement of the piston in its cylinder as each of the others have with reference to theirrespective' pis tons, a description of one will su'liice for all.

Referring then to the cylinder 10, the pistonis just starting on its intake stroke and the cylinder port 53 of the inlet member of the valve element registers with the opening 28 in the end of the cylinder, while the inlet port of said inlet member registers with the associated inlet passage 50, so that a charge of explosive mixture is drawn into the cylinder as the piston moves outwardly. At the outer end of the piston stroke the valve element has rotated through 90 degrees (its movement being one-half that of the crankshaft) bringing the cylinder port of the inlet member into the position indicated in Fig. 6, where it is entirely closed against the valve casing, and the inlet port 50 into the position shown in full lines therein. The piston now proceeds inwardly on its compression stroke at the end of which the respective ports appear as shown in Fig. 7. The explosion now occurs, driving the piston outwardly until at the end of this stroke the valve element comes to the position shown in Fig. 8 with the cylinder port 54 of the outlet shell of the valve element in register with the cylinder openin 28 and with the exhaust port 51 of said shell (which is immediately back of the inlet port,) in line with the exhaust pas The piston then proceeds on its exhaust stroke, exhausting the exploded gases from the cylinder, until at the end of the stroke the parts are again in the position shown in Fig. 5.

It will be apparent that the springs which act between the members of the valve ele ments will maintain said surfaces in close engagement within their bearings, thus insuring a gas-tight fitting between said valve elements and the valve casing at all times; and that by reason of the rotation of the valve elements being ex-axial or about a straight line which does not coincide with the axis of the valve element, and also by reason of the movement of the two members of each valve element due to the expansion springs 42 being in a direction parallel to the axis of the valve element and not to the axis of rotation of the valve element, the grinding action on the surfaces 31, 32, tends to maintain said surfaces in a condition so sage 51.

that they fit closely around the valve elements.

An oil cap is provided above each valve element and an associated oil passage 61 is formed in the valve casing to lead the oil thereto. This oil by reason of the ex-axial movement of the valve element is quickly and evenly distributed over its bearing surface. Oil caps 62 are also provided above the chambers 45 and likewise oil passages 63 through which the oil drips upon the knuckle joints between the valve stems.

While in describing my invention I have referred to certain details of construction and mechanical arrangement, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited thereby except in so far as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In combination, a plurality of spherical valves in alinement, said valves having stems extending at an angle to the line of said valves, universal joints connecting the stems to one another, and means for rotating said valves about a common axis.

2. A valve structure comprising in combination with a cylinder, a valve casing providing a spheric valve chamber opening into said cylinder and having an inlet and exhaust passages opening into said valve chamber, a spheric valve element capable of rotative movement in said valve chamber about one axis and of oscillatory movement about an axis at an angle to said first named axis, said valve element comprising hemispheric, hollow members, one constituting an inlet member and one a exhaust member and each provided with ports adapted to simultaneously register with its associated inlet or exhaust passage, and with the opening in said cylinder, and yielding means interposed between said valve members to retain them in bearing engagement within the valve chamber.

3. A valve structure comprising in combination with a cylinder, a valve casing providing a spheric valve chamber opening into said cylinder and inlet and exhaust passages opening into said valve chamber, a spheric valve element capable of rotative movement in said valve chamber about the longitudinal central axis of said valve casing and of oscillatory movement at right angles to said axis, said valve element comprising hemispheric hollow members,'an inlet and an ex haust member, each provided with ports adapted to register simultaneously with the associated passage in the casing, and with the opening in the said cylinder, resilient means interposed between said valve members to hold them in bearing engagement within the valve chamber, and means providing a gas tight joint between said valve members.

a. A valve structure comprising in combination with a cylinder, a valve casing providing a spheric valve chamber opening into said cylinder and having inlet and exhaust passages opening into said chamber, an expanding spherical valve element capable of rotative movement in said valve chamber, and comprising inlet and exhaust hemispheric shells, means for preventing rotative movement between said shells, each shell being provided in its spheric wall with a port adapted to register with the inlet or exhaust passage in proper timed relation, and each shell being provided adjacent the diametric plane between said shells with a cylinder port adapted to register with the opening into said cylinder at the same time that the other port in said shell registers With its asociated passage in the casing.

A valve structure comprising in combination With a cylinder, a valve casing providing a 'spheric valve'chamber opening into said cylinder and having inlet and exhaust passages passing into said chamber, an expanding spherical valve element'capable of rotative movement in said valve chamber and comprising inlet and exhaust hemispheric shells, each shell having a stem with its axis coincident with the diameter of the valve element extendingv at right angles to the plane dividing said shells, means for preventing rotative movement between said shells, each shell being provided in its spheric Wall With a portadap'ted to register With the inlet or exhaust passage in proper timed relation and each shell being provided adjacent the diametricplane between said shells With a cylinder port adapted to register With the opening into said cylinder at the same time that the other'p'ort in said shell registers with its associated passage in the casing.

ALBERT E. .MOORHEAD. 

